Barber&#39;s chair



vApril 21,1926. 1,582,280

w. F. KOKEN BARBERS CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1924 A Sheets-sheet l .TN VEN T02 #Vg/fer F. Koken TrOE/s/Emf A ril Z7 1926. 7-7,*

p w. F. KOKEN 1,582,280

BARBERS ACHAIR Y Filed Jan- 21l 1924 4 sheets-sheet 2 HT roe/v5 ma April 27 1926. 1,582,280

W. F. KOKEN BARBERS CHAIR Filed Jan. 2l. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

April 27 1926. 1,582,280

w. F. KOKEN BARBERS CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HTrQEA/EYS Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED stars ,tiene WALTER F. KOKEN, OF GROVES, MSQOURI.

BAnBnRs airain.

Application led January 21, 1924# Serial No. 687,539.'

T0 all 107.10m it may concern.'

Be it known that l., lauren F. mornin,

aritizcn ot the United States, residing at i lobster Groves, liiissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Barbers Chairs, ot' 'which the following is a lull, clear, and exactl description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates'to chairs of the kind used by barhers, dentists, hair dressers and other specialists, and particularly chairs o't` the type that are equipped withan op`er-V ating` mechanism comprising` an electric motor and a mechanical means such as a gear, worin or screw l'or transmitting movement- 'trom said motorio a .part ot the chair that is adapted to he adjusted or shifted from one position to another' position in the normal use oit the chair.

@ne object of my present invention is to provide a barhers chair or the like that is equipped with a novel electrically-operated means :tor adjusting the back ot the chair to recline the hack and to arrange said back in its upright position.

Another object is to provide a chair of theV general tvpe relei'red to that is equipped with an electrically-operated mechanism that adjusts the back that also locks and se curely holds the hack in adj usted position.

iinother object is to provide an elect-rif vnoperated liarhcrs chair or the like that iiexpcnsive to manufacture, easy to mainniii operativo condition and ot' such design that the movements oit' the various adjus Vnlile 'elements ot the chair siicli as the scat and hack. canhe etl'ected by one hand of the operator in charge of the chair. Other objects and desirable features ot my invention will he hereinafter pointed out.

To this end l have devised a chair that comprises a vertically-adjustable seat that can be raised and lowered, a back that cank he swung downwardly into a reclined position or moved upwardly iii-to an' upright position, and an operating` mechanism coinii'isino' an 'electricallv-o erated )rimar7 difivmg'means and two independent'mcchanieal means, one of which is adapted to he connected with said driving means to etlect the raisingl and'lowcring of the seat and the other adaptedto be connected with said primariT driving means to eiect the tion. as shown in Figure 4f.

movement of the hack into its recliiied posi-- tion and into its upright posit-ion.

Figure l ci the drawings is a top plan view olithe complete operating mechanism ot my improved chair, showing a portion ol the skirt ot the seat frame in horizontal section. Y f

Figure 2 is vertical transverse sectional view, taken onthe yline 2-2 oit' Figure l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. v Y

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l, looking` in the y direction indicated by the arrows, showing the hase ot the chair and the spindle that moves vertically in the hase'.

Figure #i is aside elevational view ot the chair, showingthe hack straightened or arranged iny its upright position; l Figure A5 is a side elevational view, showing the hack arranged in its reclined position; and

` Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing how the motor and the switch in the motor circuit are electrically-connected with the electric supply circuit.

Referring to the drawings which illus trate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the base or pedestal ot the chair, l); designates a vertical y-disposed, tuhnlar inemherin said hase that serves as a guide for a Stein C which can he raised and lowered, D designates the seat or" the chair which is carried hy a seat Lframe E that is; mounted on the stein C in such a wavthat it can revolif'e` and F designates the back ot the' chair which is mounted on the seat trame in such a wapY that it can he swung downwardlv into a. reclined position, as shown in lliguiic 5, or moved upwardly into an upright posiin illustrated is also equipped with an ad.- justahle apron G and adjustable arms H that are coinliinee with the hack F in such a wav that theirv1` willmove in unison with saine. when movement is imparted to the hack or apron, or YC@ WTS@ VThe operating` mechanism of the chair consists oaV primari7 driving` means an electric motor I' for actuating' said driving ieans which is carried by the .se-at i'ranie E, a mechanical means for raisingl and lowerin?,` the seat traine, an independent niechanical means for moving the. back relarlhe chair herey Sii tively to the seat and clutches or the like for enablingsaid mechanical means to be connected with and disconnected from said primary driving means, said clutches being combined with a governing means under control ot the operator in charge of the chair which is constructed in such a way that the adjustment of the various elements ot the chair can be eltected and accurately controlled by one hand et the operator in charge of the chair. ln the form et my invention herein illustrated the mechanical means that is used to move the seat vertically, either to raise the seat or to lower the seat, consists of a stationary screw or worm .l carried by the base ot the chair and a rotatable nut K on said screw combined with the seat trame E in such a way that said seat trame will move downwardly when said nut revolves in one direction and will move ugwardly when said nut revolves in the opposite direction. The mechanical n'ieans that is used to effect the movement et the back relatively to the seat consists ot' a rotatable worm or screw L carried by the seat frame and a traveling` nut M on said screw rigidly connected to a. rod N which is connected b v a system ot links or levers` designated as an entirety by the reference character in Figures et and 5, with the apron G in such a way that the movement ot said rod N forwardly shifts the apron and back into reclined position, as shown in Figure and the movement ot said rod lrearwardly shifts the apron and back into upright position, as shown in Figure Ii. By using a rotating screw and a traveling nut to actnate the bach l overcome the necessity ot equipping; the chair with a separate loc-hing device it'or holding the bach in adjusted position, for when the screw li is at rest the bach is securely held against movement in either direction.

rflic motor I is operatively connected with two trains ot l, 2 and Il, and clutches or other suitable de vices are prorided for connecting and disconnecting the gears il with the rotatable nut l that terms part ot the means tor raising and lowering they seat and tor coni'iecting and discoanectin.c` the gears with the rotatable screw li that forms part ot the means for reclining` and straightening the :ack F ot the cl ir. )is shown in Figure l, one ot' said 'trains oi gears is equipped with an idler arranged between the gear 3 and the gear so as to ca the gear of one train to revolve op poto une gear i ol5 the other train. ln

the eti-operating parts ot the operating mechanism are arranged inside ot a casing' l) that is housed within the scat frame lil. said casing being` connected to the upper end ot the stein C in such a way that it will move vertically with said stem but is capable of revolving on said stem. The stationary screw or worm J is arranged vertically inside ot' the stem C and projects upwardly through the rotatable nut K, which nut is joui-nailed in the. bottom .wall or portion ot the casino' P in such a way that it is free to revolve relatively to t-he bottom of the easing, but is prevented from moving vertically relatively to the bottom of the casing. Consequently, when the nut K revolves in one direction on the stationary screw J, the casing l) and the scat traine carried by same will move upwardly, and when said nut revolves inthe opposite direction on said stationar i screw said casino' and scat trame will move downwardly.

The companion gears l ot' the two trains of gears that form part of the primary driving mechanism are rigidly connected to a horizontally-disposed shaft l in the casing i that is equipped with a worm gear 5 which meshes with a worm fo' on `ihe armature shait of the motor l, as shown clearly in Figures l and 2, and the companion gears 2 oit said trains or" gears are connected to two short, horizontally-disposed shafts 7 in the casing l that are arranged in longitudinal alignment with each other, as shown in Figure l. The remaining companion gears 3 of said tra-ins of gea-rs are loosely mounted on the rotatable worin or screw L, which screw L is arranged horizontally in the casing l) in parallel relation to the short shafts 7 previously referred to.

Any suitable means can be used for euabling the rotatable nut K ot' the seat moving means to be connected with and disconnect-ed from the primary driving means and for enabling the rotatable screw L ot the back moving` means to be connected with and disconnected from said primary driving means. In the chair herein illustrated the short shafts 7 are equipped with two driving clutch members, designated 8 and Sa, that co-operatc with driven clutch members 9 and il connected to beveled pinions l() that mesh with a beveled pinion ll on the rotatable nut K. The driving clutch members 8 and Sh are splined to the shafts 'T in such a way that they can be moved longitudinally ot said shafts into and out ot' engagement with their rio-operating driven clutch members 9 and 9a, and a clutch shifting member R is provided tor governing the position ot said driving`I clutch members and for moving them into andl out of engagement with their cooperating driven clutch members. As shown in Figure l, the clutch shitting member R consists ot a sleeve slidingly mounted on a horizontallydisposed shaft 12 supportcd by the end walls ot a gear box 13 inside ot the casingl?, and said clutch member .is provided with two yolres lst and let-a that are arranged in annular grooves in the hubs of the driving clutch members S and 8a. Then lili) its supporting shaft so as to cause the driv` ing clutch member to engage thel driven clutch member7 whereupony the nut K will startete revolve. ritter the seat has moved the desired distance the clutch shifting memberl R is restored to neutral position so as to disconnect the primary driving means from the nut K. It it is desired to move the seat vertically in the opposite direction, the clutch shifting member R is moved longitudinally of its supporting` shaft so as to cause the driving clutch member to engage Y its co-operating driven clutch member, thus causing the Vmit K to revolve in the opposite direction on the stationary screw J. y A

A. similar means is used for connecting and disconnecting the primary driving means to and from the rotatable screw L thatY forms part of tliefmeans that moves the back relatively to theseat. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the gears 3 have driving clutch vmembers 15 and 15a rigidly connected to shitting memberS being equipped with two yokesl? and 17a that are arranged inannular groovesinthe hubs of the driven clutch members 1G and 16l and being mountediii such a way that it is normally Imaintained in horizontal position directly over the yrotatable screw L, as shown iii-Figure 1, the means herein illustrated for guidingsaid clutch shitting member and holding it in position consisting of perforated llugs 18 on said member that receive a. horizontally-disposed guide rod 19 arranged on the inside of the casingl P. member S is in its neutral position shown in Figure' 1, the worm or screw L will remain atrest` even though the motor `is in operation, owingfto the fact that the driven clutch members 16 and 16EL on said screw are disengaged :Erom'their c-o-o'perating` driving` clutch members 15 and 15a. 1f itis desired to move the back oi the chair relatively to the seat in' one direction, the clutch shifting member S is moved inra direction to cause the driven clutch member 16 thereon to enprefer to equip the chair with Then the clutch shifting" the driving clutch member 15, and after the back of the chair has reachedrthe desired position, said clutch shitting member S is moved back to neutral position so as to disengagesaid clutch member S. lt will be obvious that movement of the back of the chair in the opposite direction can be c ectedby moving theeliitch member S in a direction to cause the driven clutch member k16a thereon to engage the drivingclutcli member 15a.

Various means can be used to operate the clutch shifting members R and S, but I Y two controland r1" secured to the opposite ling levers "l ends of a horizontally-disposed governing sha't't U Vthat is mounted in the casingA l) in such a. way that it can be oscillated foi'- wardly and rearwardly and also moved endwise so as to bring actuating deviccsihereon into and out of engagement with the clutch shifting members R andS. fis shownin igures 1 and 2, the governing shaft U is provided with aiiractuating device 2O formed by rigid sleeveror colla-r equipped with a jaw or slot which can be moved` into cngegement with a lugor tooth Q0d on the clutch shifting member ltby moving said shaftU endwise or transversely ofthe clutch shifting member lt. Saidfgoverning shaft is also provided with a. similar actuating do vice 21 equipped with a slot or jaw that is adapted to be moved into engagement with a lug or tooth 211L on the upper side of the clutch shifting member S. The actuating devices 2O and 21 are arranged on the governing shaftU in such a manner lthat when the'actuating device 2O is in engagement withy the clutch shifting member l, the aetuating device 21 will be disengaged fr the clutch shifting member S, and when siiio actuating device 21 is engagedwith'its co--r operating clutch shiftingniember S, the tiiating device 2Q will be out of mesh with theV clutch shifting member R. `Assuming" that it is desired to lower the seat of the is intei'locled with. the clutch shifting meinber R, as shown in Figure 2, and said confil trolling lever is thereafter rocked forwardlyv7 l which movement causes the clutch shitting member R toinove -in a direction `to carry the driving clutch member into engagement with the driven vclutch member. Assuming that the electric motor has previously been set inv operation, the engagement of the driving clutch member with the driven clutch inemberwill cause theiiut K to travel dow vo iosite direction back to its uiriehtnos-v l i v b L tion, so as to restore the member R to neu tal position. lf it is desired to raise the seat of the chair, the controlling lever is rocked rearwardly after the. actuating device 2O on the governing shaft U has been engaged with the clutch shifting member R, so as to cause the driving clutch member to engage the driven clutch member, the controlling lever being restored to its upright position after the scat has moved upwardly the desired distance. lffhen it is desired to change the position of the back of the. chair this can be accomplished b v simply manipulating one or the other of the controlling levers so as to move the governing shaft endwise into such a position that the actuating device 2l thereon is interlocked with the. clutch shifting meinher S, and thereafter rocking said controlling lever forwardly or rearwardly so as to move the clutch shifting member S into such a position that one or the other of the driven clutch members on the screw L will be rendered opera-tive for transmitting movement from the primary driving mechanism to the screw L.

In order to prevent injury to the operating mechanism of the chair, in the event the operator in charge of the chair fails to inanually niove the controlling lever to its upright position, after the element of the chair that is being adjusted has reached its ez;- treine limit of movement, means is provided for automatically disconnecting' the primary driving means from the rotatable nut K when the seat reaches its extreme upper position and its extreme lower position, and the` traveling nut M on the rotatable screw L is so arranged that when it reaches a certain position in its movement in either dii'ectioii it will automatically trip the clutch which is then operative for connecting the screw L with the primary driving means. As shown in Figure l, the governing shaft U has rigidly connected thereto a collar 22 provided with a laterally-projecting arm that extends over the upper end of the stationary screw or worin J. Assuming that the seat is moving downwardly and that the operator in charge of the chair fails to manipulate the controlling lever to trip the clutch which is then operative for connecting the nut K with the primary driving mechanism when the seat reaches its extreme lower position, the arm on the collar 22 will engage the upper end of the stationary screw J just before the seat reaches its extreme lower position, thus causing the upper end of the screw J to exert pressure on the arm of the collar 22 in a direction to cause the shaft U to be automatically restored to its neutral position, which movement of the governing shaft re stores the clutch shifting member R to neutral position. During the upward movement of the seat, failure on the part of the operator to manually move the controlling lever so as to trip the clutch which is thenL operative causes a pivotally mounted arm 23 carried by the casing l) (see Figure 2) to engage a tiano'e 2'1- at the upper end of the screw J and impart downward movement to a link 25 which is connected at its upper end to a laterally-projeeting arm 26 on the governing shaft U, thus causing said shaft to be rock d automatically in a direction to restore the clutch shifting member R to neutral position and trip the clutch which is then operative for effecting the upward movement of the seat. iis previously stated, the means for adjusting the back is also constructed in such a way that it will be automatically disconnected from the prima-- ry driving means in the event the operator fails to manually operate the controlling' lever when the back reaches the end of its movement in either direction. In the chair hereinillustrated the driven clutch members iti and 16 that are splined to the rotary screw L. are arranged at such points on said screw that the traveling nut M on said screw will engage one of said driven clutch members and exert pressure on same in a direction to cause the clutch shifting member S to moveand trip the other driven clutch inembei' which is then operative, in the event the operator fails to restore the controlling lever to its upright position when the baek reaches its extreme reclined position or its extreme upright position.

in chairs of the type to which my invention relates a locking device is generally provided for locking the seat frame so as to prevent it from rotating. ln the forni of my invention herein illustrated the stem C is provided at its upper end with a tapered head piece 30 which tits in a tapered recess formed in the underside of the casing P, as shown in Figure 2, said head piece being retained in said recess by a keeper plate 3l ou the casing that laps over the underside ot' the head piece on the stein. The casing P is free to revolve on the head piece 30 of the stein when a locking device that acts on said head piece is inoperative. Said locking dcvice consists of a veitically-disposed reciprocating member 32 mounted in the easing l and arranged so that it can be moved downwardly iiito engagement with the beveled edge of the tapered head piece 30 on the stem C, and thus exert suii'icient frietional pressure on said head piece to prevent the casing l) fioin rotating relatively to the stein. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the locking device 32 is provided with a laterally-projecting lug 33 that slides in a guideway formed in a bracket 3i mounted on the bottom portion of the casing P, and said locking device is provided at its upper end with a bifureated portion 35 that is adapted to receive an arm 8G on the governing shaft U when said shaft is in a certain position. When the arm 36 on lli() lll) o oosite direction to render said lockinfT device inoperative.

Any suitable type et" switch can be used for governing the electric circuit in which the motor l is arranged, but l prefer to use a switch that is combined with the governing shaft ll in such a Way thatthe inotor circuit Will be closed automatically `nlienever thecontrolling lever is actuated to raise or lower the seat orto recline or arrange the back in an upright position. ln the chair herein ,illustrated the switch that governs the motor circuit is provided with a shittable circuit closing device l? equipped with contacts 38 that nieve into and out ol' engr-.gement vith stationary contacts 39 in the motor circuit. Suid circuit closing device is reciprocatinglvmounted in a supporting structure 40 mounted inside et the seat frame oi' the chair at a pointbelow the g f'erning :sha-ft U, as shown in Figure 2, and is combined with pairs of toggle linlrs 4l in such a Way that movement et said toggle linlrol in one direction causes the circuit closing device 37 to snap into its open position and movement or". said toggle links in the opposite direction causes said circuit-closing device to snap intoits closed position. The toggle links 41 are carried by a bracket on the supporting structure 4i) and are combined With springs 42 which normally hold the toggle links in an angular position with relation to each other and with the connecting pivot ot said links disposed either above or below the springs 42. One pair of said linl-s is combined with a springpressed pin 43N shown in Figure 2, and the governing shaft U is provided with a tripping device 44 which is adapted to engage said pin, in certain positions of the. governing shaft, and exert presure on said pin in a direction to cause the toggle links to movethe circuit-closing device 37 into its closed position when the controlling lever is rocked to effect the downward or upward movement of the seat or to effect the move-` ment oi the back into its reclined or upright position. As shown in broken lines in Fignre 2, the tripping device 44 en the governing shaft is provided `on its underside with anotch. lll/Then the governingv shaft is arranged in a position to render the locking device 32 operative, and thus holdjthe seat trame of the chair against rot-ary movement, the tripping -device 44 on the governing shaft is' positioned far enough to the right ot thepin 43, looking at Figure Q, to clearA said pin and not exert pressure on saine when the controlling lever lis rocked from its upright position. lVhen the controlling into engagement on the casing Pivhich is provided lever is manipulated tol move the governing j shaft endwise, however., preparatory to raising or lou-vering the seat, orv to recline the bacl or arrange the back in its upright position? the tripping device e on the governing shaft Will be broughtinto engagenient ivith the pin 43, and thereafter Whenever the controlling` lever isl recited in either direction trein' its upright position, the

device will exert downward pressure on the pin 4d thereby causing thetoggle links 4l to shift trom one position `to the other position unoer the inliuence of the springs 42, and thus move thel circuit-closing device 37 upwardly to bring the Contact r3S thereon -ith the stationary oontacts 39 in the motor circuit.

As shown in Figures' l and 2, the ,fg-overn-V .ing shaft U extends through asleevc V with an elongated slot 45 that has three notches 4G, and 48 at one sideo same and tivo notches 47a andy 48a as its opposite side. rvlfhe governing shaft is provided With a pin 49 that moves lengthwise of the elongated slot 45 in the sleeve-X7 When the governing shaft is moved endnise. and which enters one or the other oi' the notches that branch laterally from said slot when the governing shaft is rocked forwardly or rearwardly, llfhen it is desired to v lock the seat frame oiE the chair so as to preventit from rotating one of the controlling levers is manipulated so as to move the governingY shaft longitudinally or endwise in a direction to position the pin 49 on said shaft inthe outer end of theslot 45 in the sleeve V, looking at Figure l. and said controlling lever is then rocked `in a direction to move said pin into the Vnotch 4G at one ride of the slot in the n sleeve V. This longitudinal movement of the governing shattpositions the arm 3G thereon in the hi'furcated portion 35 at the upper end of the locking' device 82 and the rocking movenientV imparted to said shot by rocking the controlling .lever causes the locking device to move downwardly into clamping engagement With the tapered head piece 80 on the upper end of the stern C,

thereby securelyholding theseat trame of the chair against rotary movement. At

lll)

this time, namely, When the locking device 32 is operative, the clutch shitting members 'lt and S occupy their neutral posit-ions, and

the switch that governs the motor circuit is in its open position. It it is desired vto raise the seat ot the chair the'eontrolling `lever is rocked in a direction to arrange it vertically or `in an upright position so as to Withdraw the pin 49 on the governing shaft U ronithe notch 46 in the sleeve V, and said controlling lever isthen manipulated so as to move the governing shaft U endwise tar enough to bring the pin 49 thereon into alignment With the-notch 4.

CTI

Ydriven clutch member 9a.

in the sleeve V. rThis movement ot'the governing' `shaft causes the actuatinf;v device thereon to be interlocked With the clutch shittingl member R, and vvhen the control ling lever is rocked in a. direction to carry the pin ll-Q into the notch at? in the sleeve V, the elntch shitting member R moves the drivingclntch'member 8 into engagement ivit-h the driven clutch member 9, thns causing the nut' K to revolve and travel upvvardly on the stationary screiv or Worm J. 1When the seat reaches the. desired height the controlling lever is roclied in ay direction to restore the clutch shitting' member ll to neutral position, and if it is desired to lower the seat the controlling lever is rocked in the opposite direction so as to arrange the pin t9 on the governing` shaft in the notch 4T in the sleeve V, this rocking;` movement ot the governing shaft causingL the clutch shitting' member ll to move the driving clutch member S into engagement with the `When the seat reaches the desired position the controlling l ver is again restored to its normal upright position, thus causingthe clutch Shifting; member R to be returned to its normal neutral position. lllhenever it is' desired to change the position of the back ot the chair, the controlling lever is manipulated so as to move the .governing shaft endivise tar enough to arrange the 4pin 49 in alignment with the notches Lt8 and et at opposite sides of the elongated slot in the sleeve Y, this longitudinal movement of the governing shat't disengaging' the actuatin device 2O thereon from the clnteli shirting,A member R and causing the actuatingl device 21 to be interloclred with the clutch shifting; member S, Then said actuatingw device 2l is interlocled with the clutch shii'ting` member S the rocking` movement of the governing' shaft in a direction to position the pin 419 in the notch 4S causes the driven clutch member lo to be engaged ivith the driving clutch member 15a, thus causingthe .ferew or worm L to revolve in a di et-tion to recline the back, and when said governing' shaft Vis rocked .in a direction to carry the pin 49 into 'the notch 4S in the sleeve Y, the. clutch shittingv member S ivill move the driven clutch member 16 into engagement with the drivin@` clutch member l5, and thus cause the ,vorm L to revolve in a. direction to move the back into its upright position. ln the eve-nt the operator tailsy to manually move the controlling' lever into its Upright position ivheu the seat of the chair reaches its extreme depressed .position or elevated pois-dion, or ivhen the back reaches its extreme reclined pt fion or ftipright position, the governing shaftV ll is roelted automatically by the means previously described to as to trip tlieclutcb vvliicli is then operative,*thereby preventingl injury to theoperatinmechanism ot the chair.

ln order that the chair will not have numerous loose ivires or Allevible conductors that might interfere with the raising;` or lowering ofthe. ieat or revolving the seat, or interfere. With the movement oi the back relatively to the seat, l attach a collector rinfml` insulator lV to the underside of the casing P `on the seat trame, as shown in Figure 3, and provide said insulator vvith tivo collector rings 5t) and 5 )a that co-operate with vertically-dispoed conductor bi 's 5l and 5ln that are reciprocatingly mounted. in the pedestal of the chair and arranged in slidin` engagement ivith contacts' and .52 in the pedestal to vvhich electric supplv Wires and 53 are connected, the exposed portions` of said conductor bars being,- covered with insulating material and each of said bars being provided at its ripper end with a shoe or brush that acts on one ot' the collector rings carried by the insulator lll. One et' the collector rings is connected by a vvire -l with the motor l, and the other collector ring` is connected by a ivire el-u with one or' the stationary contacts 39ert the controlling svvitch, the other stationary contact ot' said switch being;` connected by a Wire 5l with the motor. The conductor bars 5l and 5l are mounted in the pedestal A ot the chair and are combined With the collector rings in such vvay that they will move vertically in said pedestal vvhen the seat frame is raiied Vand lowered, and the shoes or brushes at the `iup-per ends of said conductor bars are eemblned with the collector rings in such a vvay that the eatfra'me can be revolved without disturbing the electrical. connection between the supply ivires ot the energizing circuit and the contacts ot the sivitch in the motor circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as nevv and desire to secure by Leb ters Patent is:

l. A chair provided ivitli a seat, a balt, a mechanical means `Lt'or moving` the baci; relatively to the seat comprisingtivo cooperating` threaded devices arranged so that movement imparted to one device causes the other device to aetuate the back, a primary driving means, a motor tor operating; said driving` means, and means under eontrol ot the operator in charge ot the chair for connecting and disconnecting` said ine-- chanical means to and 'from said driving' means.

2. A chair provided with a seat7 a ba it, Va mechanical means for actuating said bach comprising tivo cti-operating threaded devices arranged so that movement imi'mrefl to one device causes the other device `to actuate the beek, a primary driving mean.;

one direction Lacasse a motor for operating said driving means, and two devices under control of the operator in charge of the chair, one oi' which is adapted to be actuated to connectsaid me chanicalmeans with said driving means to canse the baclr to move downwardly and the other adapted to be actrated; to -coi said mechanical means with said dr K meansl to cause the `bach to move nps fly.

3. A chair provided with a seat, a bach, a mechanical means for actuating said baclr co-mprisin otivo co-operating` threaded devices arranged so that moi/'ement imparted to one device causes the other device to actuate the back, a primary driving meanf, a motor for operating;- said drivino' moans, and a manually-operable means for connecting'said mechanical means with said driv ing rmeans-to etiect the movement et the back in one direct-ion, said mechanical means being` so' constructed that it will be anto matically disconnected from said driving' means in the event the operator tails to actnatesaid mannallyeperable device when the back reaches its limit oit movement in ments When it is desired to recline the baclr and connected with the other ot said elements When it is desired to straighten the back or arrange it in its upright position.

5.A chair, comprising a seat, a" back, a rotatable screw, a traveling mit lon said screw for movin?- the baclr relatively to the seat, a primary driving means comprisingl tivo rotatablel elements that revolve in the same direction, clutch members splined to said screwr Jfor connecting same with said rotatable elements, and a manually-operable clutch shifting` device for moving` and governing the position oi said clutch lmembers.

6. A chair, comprising,v a seat, a back, a rotatable screw, a traveling nut on said screw for moving` the back relatively to the seat, a primary driving' means comprising;` two rotatable elements that revolve in the same direction7 clutch members splined to said screw for connecting same with said rotatable elements, and a manuallyoperable clutch shifting` device :tor moving and govcrningthe position of said clutch members, said nut being so arranged that it Will ensaid clutch shifting member and move it in a direction to disconnect said screw from said driving means in the event the operator fails to move said clutch shitting; member after the baci-r reaches its estreme limit of movement.

actuating said bacs comprising` tivo co'-o erating threaded devices arranged so that! a primary driving means, an element for shifting said clutch members int-ofand ont of engagement with said primary driving means to eiiect themovement oi the haelt in opposite directions, and a n'iannally-operable member forfmoving said clntch shit# ing element, said mechanical vmeans being; so constructed that the clutch sh ino" element will be moved automatically afterthc back reaches a certain position so as to auf tomatically disconnect said mechanicai `means. vfrom said primary drivinb` means.

S. A chair provided with arent, ka'baclf, an electric motor, a pair of gears operate l by said motor anc arranged to revolve i; the same direction, a mechani al means l movementyimparted ltol one device causes the other device to actuate the back, and.`

means whereby said mechanical means be connected with one ot said gears to move Athe back downwardly tovvardsits rcclined position and connected with theother gear to move the bach upwardly into its npright position. e

9. A chair, comprising a seat, a back, an' electric motoiga pair et gears operated by vsaid motor andv arranged to revove in the same direction, driving clutchl members con-k nected to said gears, a rotatable sereni, driven clutch members splined te said screwv and adapted' to move into and ont oit en, `nagement with said driving clntch members, a traveling nnt on sai d' screiv, `and means for transmitting movement from s; 'd nut to said bach to mov the back relatively to the seat. I Y' 10. A chair, comprising a seat, a back, a

mechanical'means for actnating said back y ycharge of the chair that is adapted to be actuated to start the motor and also com nect said mechanical means with said driving means so as to move the back relatively to the seat` 1l. In a chair oi the kind described, the

combination of tivo separate and distinct mechanical means, an electrically-operated primary driving means, tivo clutches associated vwith each of said mechanical means 'lier enabling' same to be connected With said primary driving means,'t\vo clutch shifting;

members associated with said pairs ofv clutches and arranged in parallel relation to each other, a singlegoverning shaft arranged transversely of said clutch shifting members and adapted to be moved endwise or longitudinally, and co-operating elements on said shaft and clutch shifting members arranged so that they can be brought into interlocking relation by endwise movement of said shaft,

12. In a chair of the kind described, the combination of two separa-te and distinct mechanica-l means, an electrically-operated primary driving means, pairs of clutches as sociated with said mechanical means for connecting the same with said primary driving means, two clutch shifting members associated with said pairs of clutches, a single governing shaft mounted on the seat frame in such a manner -that it can be oscillated and also moved endwise, 'co-operating devices on said shaft and clutch shifting members that can be brought into interlocking relation with each other by endivise movement of said governingv shaft, and a switch for controlling `the circuit in which the motor of said primary driving means arranged combined with said governing shaft in such a way that movement of said shaft in a direction to render any one of said clutches operative closes the motor circuit and movement. of said shaft in a direction to render said clutch inoperative causes said switch to open the motor circuit.

13. In a chair of the kind described, the combination of two separate and distinct mechanical means, an electrically-operated primary driving means, clutches associated with said mechanical means for connectingsame with said primary driving means, two clutch shifting members arranged in parallel relation, a single governing shaft ari ranged transversely of said clutch shifting members and adapted to be oscillated and also moved endwise, and cooperating devices on said shaft and clutch shifting members arranged so that said shaft can be connected with one of said clutch shifting members by moving said shaft endwise and there after disconnected from said clutch shiftingmember and connected with the other clutch shifting member by moving said shaft endwise into a different position.

11i. In a chair of the hind described, the combination of two separate and distinct mechanical means, a'primary driving means, an electric motor for operating said driving means, clutches associated with said mecnanical means for enabling same to be connected with said primary driving means, two clutch shifting members for rendering said clutches operative and inoperative, a single governing shaft on the seat frame, means for enabling said shaft to be Vconnected with either of said clutch shifting members at the will of the operator in charge of the chair and then actuated to render a selected clutch operative or inoperative, and a switch for the motor circuit combined with said governing shaft in such n Way that movement of said shaft in a direction to render a selected clutch operative causes the motor to start and movement of said shaft in a direction to render said selected clutch inoperative causes said motor to stop.

l5. In a chair of the kind described, the combination of two separate and distinct mechanical means, a primary driving means on said seat frame. an electric motor for operating said driving means, clutches associated with said mechanical means for enabling same to be connected with said primary driving means, a. single governing shaft on the seat frame for controlling said clutches arranged so that it can be oscillated and also moved endwise, .a switch for controlling the circuit that energizes said motor housed within the seat frame, and means on said governing shaft for causing said switch to close the motor circuit whenever said shaft is actuated to render any one of said clutches operative.

WTALTER F. KOKEN. 

